Crate.



No. 794,439. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. V. E. WINDELL.

CRATE.

APPLICATION ILLED JULY 9,1904.

2 SHEETS-SEES! l.

PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

V. B. WINDELL.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nrrnn STATES Patented July 1 1, 1905.

ATENT @rrrcn.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,439, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed July 9, 1904. Seria No. 215,848.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERN E. WINDELL, a

I citizen'of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Howard, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Crates; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shipping-crates, and more particularly to the class of folding crates, the object of the invention being to provide a construction which when set up or unfolded will be strong and rigid and which when folded ready for return shipment will occupy a very small space.

A further object of the invention is to provide cheap and simple means, which may be readily connected and disconnected, for holding the parts in both their folded and unfolded positions.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the crate set up or unfolded, the top at one end of the crate being broken away to illustrate the corner-fastening. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken transversely through the crate in unfolded position adjacent to one end of the crate and illustrating the corner-fastening. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a corner-crate and illustrating a corner-fastening; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the central partition and adjacent portions of the sides of the crate and illustrating the means for securing the partition. Fig. 5 is a top plan View showing the crate in folded position, save for the sides, the top at one end being broken away to show the folded positions of an end and the partition.

Referring now to the drawings, the present crate comprises a bottom 10, to which are connected ends comprising vertically-spaced rails 11 and intervening end blocks 12, suitably connected, the bottom rail of each end having screw-eyes 13 engaged therewith, and the eyes of which are engaged with the eyes of screw-eyes 14, which are screwed into the upper face of the bottom 10, so that these ends may be shifted to stand erect or to lie flat upon the upper face of the bottom 10, as preferred. The crate includes also sides, each of which consists of a bottom rail 15, mounted upon blocks 16, set directly upon the bottom 10, and which blocks hold the rail 15 in spaced relation to the bottom. Each of the sides comprises an upper member, including rails 17, between which are disposed blocks 18, which hold the rails in spaced relation, these rails and blocks being held together in any suitable manner. In the rail 15 of the lower member of each side of the crate and above the block 16 are engaged screw'eyes 18, the eyes of which pivotally engage the eyes of other screw-eyes 19, which are engaged in the bottom rail 17 of the upper member of the side, so that the upper members of the sides may be swung inwardly to lie over and in spaced relation to the bottom 10.

Against the inner face of the upper portion of each of the ends of the crate there is secured one leaf of a hinged hasp 20 adjacent to each vertical edge of the end, as illustrated, the leaf 21 of each hasp having a perforation 22 therethrough. hen the sides and ends of the crate are in erect or unfolded positions, the perforations 21 aline with perforations 22 in the sides of the crate, and through these alining perforations are engaged bolts 23, the nuts of which are screwed onto their inner ends.

A top for the crate consists of a plurality of longitudinal strips 2 L, having spacingblocks 25, and which top is adapted to rest upon the ends of the crate and between the top rails 17 of the sides, the sides projecting slightly above the ends, as illustrated, and the top having blocks 26 at its sides, which hold the top with the strips 24: in spaced relation to the sides of the crate.

Secured to the top of the crate against each side and at each end is one leaf 27 of a hinged hasp, the other leaf 28 having a perforation 29 therethrough, which when the top is in place and theleaf hangs downwardly is adapted to aline with the perforation 22 for engagement therethrough of the bolt 23, so that the bolts serve also to hold the cover in place.

In the top of the crateis a hand-opening provided with a closure 30, having a hasp 31 for cooperation with a staple 32 and pin 33 to hold the closure in active position. The end hole permits of introduction of the hand to apply the nuts to the bolts.

A partition 35 is provided intermediate of the ends of the crate and has secured thereto a hasp 39, which cooperates with the staple 40 and the pin 41 to hold the partition-to the bottom 10. while permitting it to lie upon the bottom when not in use. Other hasps 42 are secured to the face of the partition, and from the inner faces of the sides of the crate project staples 43, which engage the hasps and receive pins 44, so that the partition is held in its active position.

When the crate is to be folded, the bolts 23 are disengaged and the ends are folded against the bottom,after which the upper pinsthat hold the partition are disengaged and the partition is folded against the bottom. The top is then placed upon the folded ends and partition, the top being flush with the tops of the rails 15, and the upper members of the sides are then folded to lie upon the top. One of the sides is provided with a hasp 45, while the other side is provided with astaple46 upon its outer face for engagement with the hasp and adapted to receive a pin 47 tohold the parts in their folded positions. It will be understood that in practice modifications of the specific construction shown may be made and any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is A crate comprising abottom, ends and sides hinged to the bottom, hinged hasps each having one leaf secured against the inner face of an end and having its other leaf perforated and adapted to lie against the inner face of the adjacent side, the sides having perforations for alinement with those of the hasps, a top, hinged hasps each having a leaf attached to the top and having its other leaf perforated and disposed to aline with the perforations of one of the first-named leaves, and a bolt removably engaged through each set of alining perforations.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VERN E. WI NDELL.

Witnesses:

W. G. MARSHALL, W. O. BREEDLOVE. 

